28k COVID-19 cases reported

March 8, 2022

Centre for Health Protection Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au:

On the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) online reporting platform, as of yesterday, since we launched the platform from 6pm until midnight we have recorded about 17,236 people have used this platform to submit their information to us.

After they submitted their information, we checked (it) against our own database and found that some of them are already confirmed (COVID-19) cases or have repeated registration and submission of information. 

After deduplication, we recorded about 14,715 new submissions. These people provided information that they had tested positive through a rapid antigen test on either March 6 or 7.   

So we have sent SMS messages to them to request them to submit their Hong Kong identity card documents as well as the image or photo of their rapid antigen test through another link. 

So far, up to midnight yesterday, among the about 14,000 people who have submitted their information, 2,018 have completed the submission of further documents. 

We have verified these 2,018 cases as confirmed cases and issued an isolation order to them as well as quarantine orders for their household contacts, and they will be treated as confirmed cases. 

Apart from the 28,475 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-tested positive cases recorded yesterday, we have an additional 2,018 RAT-tested positive cases recorded yesterday.

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 28,475 additional COVID-19 cases that had tested positive by nucleic acid tests, of which nine are imported and the rest are locally infected.

Another 14,715 positive results were reported to the centre via the Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) in the first six hours of its operation. This figure excludes earlier confirmed infections or those with repeated registration.

At the daily press briefing this afternoon, Centre for Health Protection Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au said: “As of yesterday, since we launched the platform from 6pm until midnight we have recorded about 17,236 people have used this platform to submit their information to us.”

“After deduplication, we recorded about 14,715 new submissions. These people provided information that they had tested positive through a rapid antigen test on either March 6 or 7.”

Dr Au added that isolation orders have been issued to 2,018 of these cases following confirmation of the necessary documents, including photos of the RAT results.

“We have verified these 2,018 cases as confirmed cases and issued an isolation order to them as well as quarantine orders for their household contacts, and they will be treated as confirmed cases.”

The Government will conduct nucleic acid tests on a random basis on citizens who have declared a positive result through the declaration system starting March 8. The compulsory testing notice concerned has been gazetted.

The testing contractor will call the persons concerned and arrange for door-to-door delivery of a nasal swab self-sampling kit by courier service on the same day or the next.

Separately, the Government made restriction-testing declarations to cover designated buildings where sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

They include blocks 4, 5 and 6 of Tsui Ning Garden in Tuen Mun, Block 1 and Block 2, Block 5 of Sherwood Court, Kingswood Villas in Yuen Long, 80-82 and 84-86, Broadway, Mei Foo Sun Chuen Phase 3 in Lai Chi Kok as well as Tin Yiu House and Tin Wing House of Shun Tin Estate in Kwun Tong.

People in the restricted areas must undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

As there were positive sewage test results in several areas of Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Sai Kung, Tuen Mun and North District, the Home Affairs Department will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleansing workers and property management staff working in such areas from tomorrow.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.